Martin Uggla, Chair of Swedish human rights organisation, has been detained in the transit zone of the National Airport Minsk-2, human rights centre Viasna reports. The border guards stated that Mr Uggla was prohibited from entering Belarus, but they continued to consult with their commanders.

In January, Martin Uggla wrote in his blog that Belarusian visas and accreditations were not beneficial for the Ice Hockey championship because foreign journalists wishing to receive accreditation to the tournament to be held this year in May would have to cover sport events only. “All those journalists who want to cover topics that are not related to the Ice Hockey Championship shall apply for accreditation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country. This is a much more complicated and bureaucratized process,” he stressed.

Sweden’s Östgruppen is among the initiators of the international campaign ‘Don't Play with the Dictator’ against holding the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk.